Knockdown seat.



No. 861,454. I PATENTS-D JULY 30, 1907. T. L. GARRISON.

KNOGKDOWN SEAT.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.18. 1906,

.6 J T @WZJWIZ, ZNVENTOR;

I y Y I I I A TTORNE Y5 .THOMAS LEE GARRISON,

OF COOPER, TEXAS.

KNOCKDOWN SEAT.

Application filed October 18,1906.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1907.

Serial No. 339,562,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LTnoMAs Lnn GARRISON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cooper, in the county of Delta and State of Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Knockdown Seat, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a knock-down seat or bench intended moreparticularly for temporary uses, such as tent or camp meetings, andother out of door purposes, so that when the benches are no longerrequired, they can be taken apart and packed compactly and stored awayin a small space.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a seat of thischaracter which is comparatively inexpensive and simple to construct,easy to assemble or knock down without the use of nails, screws, orsimilar fastenings, and is stable, safe and comfortable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple form of endframe to which the back of the seat is firmly secured, and on which theseat portion rests.

Another object is the provision of a clamping device or clasp which isused for the purpose of: clamping the end frames and back of the seattogether in a simple, ready and convenient manner, so that little timeand trouble is required to set up the seat or take it apart.

With these objects in view, and others, as will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the invention comprises the variousnovel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will bemore fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in theclaims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one of the embodiments ofthe invention, Figure l is a perspective view of the seat. Fig. 2 is anend view thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts of the seatdisassembled and packed together.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout bysimilar characters of reference.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the seat board of the bench, 2the back board or rest, and 3 the end frame on which the seat and backboards are supported.

The boards 1 and 2 are of suitable proportions to afford sufficientrigidity without being too heavy. When the seats are of comparativelygreat length, it is preferable to employ one or more frames atintermediate points, so as to prevent sagging of the seat and backboards.

The frames 3 are of the same construction so that they can be readilyinterchangeable and used in any position, and in connection with anyseat or back board. This is a matter of convenience, seat do not have tobe kept together when the seat is knocked down, but the frames 3 of allthe seats pack promiscuously together, as do also the back and seatboards. Each frame 3 comprises a front leg 4, a back leg 5 having anupward extension 6, and a cross piece since the parts of one I 7 towhich the legs are permanently and securely fastened. The cross pieces 7of the several frames serve to receive the seat board 1, while theextension 6 receives the back board 2. The extension 6 provided with aninclined pocket 8 that is open at its top so that the back board can beslid into the same. The front wall 9 of the pocket 8 is so proportionedas to have a certain resiliency, while the rear wall 10 is rigid, sothat the front wall 9 can be drawn toward the rear wall for the purposeof clamping the back board in place.

The slot or pocket 8 is inclined backwardly, so as to render the seatmore comfortable for the back of the occupant. By preference, the frontwall 9 takes the form of a strip that is securely fastened at its lowerend on the front side of the extension 6. A notch is formed between thelower end of the strip 9 and the adjacent cross piece 7, which notch isso proportioned as to permit the rear edge of the seat board 1 to besnugly fitted into the same, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The walls ofthe pocket 8 are clamped firmly in contact with the back boardthroughout their entire area, so that a very firm grip on the said boardis obtained. By means of this grip, lateral movement of the seat as awhole is effectively prevented. The engagement of the seat board in thenotches 11 assists materially in preventing any lateral play of theparts. The width of the pocket 8 of each frame 3 is slightly greaterthan the thickness of the strip. 9, so that two frames 3 can be claspedtogether by means of the strip 9 of one being inserted into the pocket 8of the other, as shown in Fig. 3. To do this, the strips 9 of each pairyield slightly to permit the pockets to open for the reception of thestrips. In other Words, the strips 9 [it with sufficient tightness thepockets 8 that each pair of frames 3 may be fastened together for thepurpose of; storing them.

Any suitable means may be employed for drawing the strips 9, so as toclamp the back-board 2 to the extension 6. It is preferable to provide afastening device which can be easily and quickly secured in place orunfastened. One simple form of fastening comprises an endless ringshaped to fit over the upper ends of the extension 6 and strip 9. Therear surface of the extension 6 is vertical, while the strip 9 isinclined rearwardly; thus the said extension and strip form a wedgeexpanding in a downward direction. Therefore, by assembling the ring 12over the ends of the extension 6 and strip 9, and forcing the ringdownwardly, the said ring will exert a drawing effect upon the strip 9and cause the back-board to be firmly clamped in the pocket 8. Toprevent the ring from slipping, the back surface of the extension 6 isprovided with a roughened or serrated portion 13 with the serrations ofwhich the ring engages. When the frames 3 are made of wood, as indicatedin the present instance, the serrations 1.3 are formed on a metal plate14 set in and secured to the rear side of the extension 6. With afastening device of this character, I have found that a bench can be setup and the fastening applied with great despatch, so that a large numberof benches can be set up for use in a comparatively little time.

I have described the principle of the invention, together with theapparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, but Idesire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merelyillustrative, and that various changes may be made, when desired, as areWithin the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of two approximately similar seat and back boards,and supporting frames to which both boards are detachably connected,each frame comprising front and back legs, a cross piece connecting thelegs and arranged to receive the seat board, an upwardly extendingmember on the rear leg having a recess opening forwardly to receive therear edge of the seat board and having a pocket of greater depth thanthe width of the back board for receiving the latter, and a fasteningdevice engaging the upper end of the said member for clamping thebackboard in the pocket thereof.

2. A seat comprising seat and back-boards, supporting frames for theboards, each frame being provided with an upward extension, a springstrip on the extension forming therewith a recess for receiving theseat-board and a pocket for receiving the back-hoard, and meansoperating on. the strip for clamping the back-board to the extension.

A seat comprising seat and THOMAS LEE GARRISON.

Witnesses .T. A. DARWIN, J nun BLACKWELL.

